TRIPS to the hairdresser, high street shopping and gym sessions are all possible once more from today as the biggest lifting of coronavirus restrictions so far brings us a step closer to normality.
In town centres the mood is positive as traders get ready to welcome shoppers to their stores.
Tina Mollard at Time and Motion Jewellers went online to greet customers and wish her fellow shopkeepers a successful opening week.
“I know like a lot of other traders in the town and beyond we have spent the day cleaning down and brushing off those cobwebs, ready to welcome you all back safely,” she said.
“The shop is all clean and sparkly and painted ready. It is a big day for all of us and I would just like to wish everyone a successful reopening. The town was being cleaned beautifully today by volunteers and a wonderful job they have done, the baskets and flower tubs around the town are looking amazing. It’s been a long time in closure again but I think we are all ready to spread our wings and bring back the hustle bustle of our lovely town in Liskeard and other adjoining towns also. Just keep up the good work in keeping this virus at bay and we can all succeed and move forward to a better future.”
As lockdown restrictions continue to ease, Cornwall Council is reminding the public to keep sticking to the rules.
“It’s vital that we continue to keep up with the things that keep us all safe,” said a spokesperson.
“We must continue to wear a face covering in enclosed public places like shops (unless you are medically exempt), wash your hands often for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser, and keep two metres apart from anyone you don’t live with even when you are socialising.
“Take up the vaccine when offered and please get a test and self-isolate if you have symptoms. Keeping ourselves safe from the virus means we need to do all these things together, if we skip doing even one thing we put ourselves and others at more risk.”
In brief the rules now allow:
• Rule of six or two households meeting outdoors only (unless you are in a support bubble which can meet indoors)
• Reopening of non-essential retail
• Reopening of personal care premises
• Indoor gyms sessions for individuals or households (but not mixed groups)
• Reopening outdoor attractions such as zoos, theme parks or drive in cinemas
• Hospitality venues can provide food and drink outdoors
• You can stay away from home overnight in self-contained accommodation with your household.
Rachel Wigglesworth director of Public Health for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly said “The easing of the roadmap is welcome and many of us will be excited to meet friends, get our hair done and have some feeling of freedom.
“But we’re still cautious and we still can’t be complacent. The second we relax and take our eye off the ball, Covid can sneak back in. So please, stick to the rules to keep Cornwall’s cases low. We don’t want to find ourselves in a situation where we have to take a backwards step now.
Cornwall’s high streets and neighbourhood shopping areas have been doing lots of work to get ready for fully reopening safely.
To help everyone feel reassured that everything possible is being done to keep them safe when they are out and around, the Council has been working with local councils and high street businesses to put lots of Covid-safety measures in place. This is being supported from the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and includes prominent signage with social distancing and face covering reminders, one-way traffic flow and designated pedestrian-only areas, and encouraging the use of hand sanitiser stations.
“Keep an eye out also for some of the street performers who will be out and about again in town centres reminding us that we all still need to follow the public health guidance. The pandemic is still very much with us and we all have an important role to play in helping keep our high streets open so they can continue to do business once more without fear of further restrictions being imposed again.”